Heuchera plant named ‘Pinky Panky’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Heuchera a plant named ‘Pinky Panky’ that is characterized by its leaves that are white in color, finely mottled and edged green, with pink veins and surfaces that are flushed with pink and its flowers that are pink in color.

Botanical classification: Heuchera hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Pinky Panky’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Heuchera of hybrid origin, botanically known as Heuchera ‘Pinky Panky’ and is hereinafter referred to by its cultivar name ‘Pinky Panky’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling that arose from seed planted from open pollination of an unnamed and unpatented plant of Heuchera from the Inventor's breeding program in Réty, France. The male parent of ‘Pinky Panky’ is therefore unknown. ‘Pinky Panky’ was selected as a single unique plant in spring of 2017 from the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished under the direction of the Inventor by tissue culture initiated from meristem tissue in September of 2019 in Lochristi, Belgium. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by tissue culture has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Pinky Panky’ as a new and unique cultivar of Heuchera.

-   -   1. ‘Pinky Panky’ exhibits leaves that are white in color, finely         mottled and edged green, with pink veins and surfaces that are         flushed with pink.     -   2. ‘Pinky Panky’ exhibits flowers that are pink in color.

The female parent plant of ‘Pinky Panky’ is similar to ‘Pinky Panky’ in having white and green mottled foliage but differs from ‘Pinky Panky’ in lacking foliage with pink veins and flushed pink coloration. ‘Pinky Panky’ can be most closely compared to the Heuchera cultivars ‘Snowfire’ (not patented) and ‘Snow Angel’ (not patented). ‘Snowfire’ is similar to ‘Pinky Panky’ in having leaf veins that are pink in color. ‘Snowfire’ differs from ‘Pinky Panky’ in having pink coloration only in the leaf veins and foliage that has large white spots and splashes. ‘Snow Angel’ is similar to ‘Pinky Panky’ in having foliage with green and white coloration. ‘Snow Angel’ differs from ‘Pinky Panky’ in having foliage that is rarely flushed with pink and in having large white spots and splashes.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosures and/or sales that fall within a one-year grace period to the filing date. Disclosures include website listings by Le Jardin du Chat Vert (blog), RHS Chelsea show, Spanne Plantsalg, Sunds, Hortweek, Plant Estate, Fleur, Maytree Nursery, Deux Caps, Border in a Box, Clematis Nursery Co., Promesse de fleurs, Heucheraholics, The Biking Gardener, Hedging Co., Shoot Gardening, Cool Plants, and Twigs Nurseries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Heuchera.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was taken of a plant 2 years in age as field grown outdoors in Rety, France and provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Pinky Panky’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 was taken of a plant 10 months in age as grown outdoors in a 9-cm container in Torcé Viviers en Charnie, France and provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Pinky Panky’.

The colors in the photograph are as close as possible with the digital photography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Heuchera.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants 10 months in age as grown outdoors in 9-cm containers in Torcé Viviers en Charnie, France. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—April and May in France.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Flattened globular with inflorescences held             above the foliage.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 15 cm in height (soil level             to top of foliar plane), average of 55 cm in height (soil             level to top of floral plane) and 30 cm in spread.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to pests             or diseases has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous roots on woody rootstalks.         -   Propagation.—Tissue culture.         -   Root development.—An average of 3 weeks for root initiation,             6 weeks to produce a rooted cutting.         -   Growth rate.—Slow. -   Stem description; None present, leaves emerge as basal rosettes from     roots. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Reniform to broad ovate in outline.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Hastate, lobes touching to very slightly             overlapping.         -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse to very short and abruptly acute.         -   Leaf venation.—Laciniate, upper surface matches leaf             surface, lower surface N148C.         -   Leaf margins.—Crenate, each lobe has an obtuse to very short             abruptly acute tip, moderately undulate and moderately             covered with very short hairs, average of 0.4 mm in length,             N155A in color.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate in basal rosettes.         -   Leaf lobes.—Lobed, an average of 5 to 7 lobes, shallow in             depth, divergent, lobe margins free.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces non-rugose, smooth and             pubescent, moderately covered with very short strigose hairs             an average of 0.2 mm in length and too small to measure             color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; a blend of N186C and N200A             and slightly lighter, strongly and irregularly marbled and             blotched 51B, young lower surface; a blend of N186C and 187A             and slightly lighter, strongly irregularly marbled and             blotched 51A, mature upper surface; 197A and slightly             darker, strongly irregularly dotted, marbled and blotched             147A and 51C to 51D and lighter, mature lower surface; a             blend of 59B and 187D, moderately irregularly dotted,             marbled and blotched 51B to 51C.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 4.2 cm in length and 4.4 cm in             width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 8 per basal rosette.         -   Petioles.—An average of 9.4 cm in length and 1 mm in             diameter, medium strength, both surfaces slightly glossy,             upper surface color 178B, tinged 184B to 184C, lower surface             color 152B.         -   Stipules.—Leafy stipules at the base of each leaf, average             of 1 cm in length, average of 0.3 cm in width, tip acute,             pointing outward in an average angle 70° to peduncle, 153D             in color and base 54C at base. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Numerous small bell-shaped flowers             arranged on panicles on peduncles emerging from a basal             rosette.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 6.9 cm in height and 3.8             cm in diameter.         -   Inflorescence number.—An average of 3.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower quantity.—Average of 27 flowers per inflorescence, 50             flowers per plant, 150 buds and flowers per plant.         -   Flower lastingness.—Average of one week.         -   Flower buds.—Obovate in shape, an average of 4 mm in length             and 2.5 mm in diameter, color; 54C, top 50B, lower half 54A,             surface is matte and moderately covered with very short             glandular hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in length and too             small to measure color.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward to slightly nodding.         -   Flower type.—Single, campanulate.         -   Flower size.—Average of 8 mm in height, diameter, and             length.         -   Petals.—Average of 5, oblanceolate in shape, margin is             entire, apex is acute, base is acuminate, upper and lower             surface is glabrous, smooth and matte, an average of 3 mm in             length and 1 mm in width, color when opening upper surface;             N155B, base 65B to 65C, color when opening lower surface;             N155B, base 65A, fully open upper surface; N155B, base 65C,             fully open lower surface; N155B, base 65A to 65B.         -   Calyx.—Campanulate, sepals fused to hypanthium, 8 mm in             length and diameter.         -   Sepals.—An average of 5, lower 62.5% fused into campanulate             hypanthium, free part ovate in shape, an average of 8 mm in             length and 0.3 mm in width, margin is entire and fused into             hypanthium, apex is acute, color; when opening upper             surface; lower half 55C, upper half 54A to 54B, when opening             lower surface; 54C, top 50B, lower half 54A, fully open             upper surface; 55C, upper half 54B, fully open lower             surface; 54C, top 51A, lower half 54A, surface is smooth and             covered with very short glandular hairs, average of 0.2 mm             in length and to small to measure color.         -   Peduncle.—An average of 31.2 cm in length and 2 mm in             diameter, 176A and 178A in color, primary flower aspect 70°             to horizontal, secondary peduncle aspect to main peduncle             50°, moderate in strength, surface moderately glossy and             moderately covered with very short soft glandular hairs;             average of 0.5 mm in length, N155A in color.         -   Pedicels.—An average of 2.5 mm in length and 0.5 mm in             diameter, 182A in color, primary flower aspect straight on             top of secondary pedicel, secondary and tertiary flower             aspect is 30°, moderate in strength, surface matte and             moderately covered with very short soft glandular hairs;             average of 0.2 mm in length and too small to measure color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistils; 2, 3 mm in length, stigma; club-shaped,             too small to measure color, 0.2 mm in diameter, style; an             average of 2.75 mm in length, color; NN155B, base 157D,             ovary; 54A in color.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; 5, anthers; ovate in shape, average of             0.5 mm in length and width, 22A in color, filament; 3 mm in             length and NN155D in color, pollen; moderate in quantity and             24A in color.         -   Seed/fruit.—No fruit or seeds were observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Heuchera plant named ‘Pinky Panky’ as herein illustrated and described. 